I was having a lazy day; of that there could be no doubt. It was a beautiful, cool fall day. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And all I wanted to do was lie on the couch and read with the window open, taking in the fresh air and just enjoying life all around. As I said, a lazy day.

I decided I wanted a beer. So up I went to the beer fridge to see what I had. Thumbing through my collection, I saw a few bottles of Grant’s Lazy Days Ale sequestered in the back. “Hmmmmm,” I thought. “A Lazy Days for a lazy day? Sounds good to me.

Grant’s Lazy Days Ale is, of course, their summer seasonal. Like the spring seasonal Fresh Hop Ale it showcases a particular hop, in this case Amarillos. Grant’s offers four seasonal brews in addition to their regular lineup.

The hops used in a beer can make as much difference as the malts. The higher the alpha acid content in a hop variety, the more bitterness it can potentially add. Of course, other factors have a lot to do with the characteristics hops will impart to beer, such as their age and when they are added to the boil.

At times, hops are deliberately aged to lower the alpha acid content and reduce bitterness. This is common with Belgian lambics. Adding hops to the brew kettle early in the boil will extract more alpha acids and add more bitterness to the final product. Adding them at a later point will add aroma, but less bitterness.

Still, certain hop varieties are know for their particular qualities. Amarillos are known for their flowery, citrus notes. They have an alpha acid content of 8% to 9% and are a good choice for pale ales and India pales. They are a relatively new strain and are somewhat similar to Cascades.

Obviously, the lazy days of summer have passed into the cool fall days of November as I write this (or perhaps the cold winter days, depending on your geographic situation). So my bottle has been in the fridge for a while, but it has been kept cold and in good order.

Grant’s Lazy Days Ale pours to a bright orange amber color with a light fizzy head and a subtle fruit nose. The palate is crisp with lots of fresh malt flavor. It’s just like chewing a handful of crystal malt. There are notes of caramel and candyish crystal malt, a light toastiness, and fruity apple notes. The finish is crisp and balanced with a light citric note. This is not an extremely bitter beer.

Great with poultry and fish. I enjoyed a bottle with country-fried chicken, baked sweet potatoes and buttered squash.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.